At 3.7m in length, the Sabre is a little shorter than the popular Laser class, has a little less sail area, and is therefore easier to handle in all winds. With a minimum hull weight of just 42kg, it is much lighter than the Laser. The boat can therefore be easily launched by one person and uses a beach trolley for easy storage, rigging and launching. They are also a comfortable boat to sail, with their deep cockpits and rounded side tanks. This is a boat you sit in, not on, and it is fun to sail.

The Sabres can be built in plywood, fibreglass, or fibreglass with plywood decks. It is a one-design class, with measurement rules that ensure that one Sabre is the same as the rest.